Elf News Reporter at North Pole News Network
Elf Meg graduated from Southern North Pole University with a degree in journalism. For several years she was a star reporter for the North Pole Gazette and then briefly served as a producer for North Pole Radio News. She brings her experience in media to North Pole Flight Command, serving as both an Elf News Reporter for North Pole Radio News and Managing Editor of North Pole Flight Command.com
Elf Meg Nogg
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In a meeting late yesterday at the North Pole Elf Roger Star, Director of North Pole Flight Command, indicated he may end the test flights “early”.

The comment took many by surprise. Traditionally, Santa’s sleigh continues test flights up to the very hour of Santa’s launch.

But the test flights this year have been so successful that some are saying there’s just nothing further to test on the sleigh.

Twelve prototype sleighs have been flying near continuously since June of this year in an effort to get it “perfect”. There are rumors, especially based on test flights held recently, that this could be the fastest sleigh in the history of Claus flight.

Many are already talking that this could be the year when Santa breaks the 30-hour delivery barrier that has eluded him for so many years. In the past ten years Santa has completed his flight at anywhere from 30 to 36 total hours of flight time. Last year he came within 20 minutes of breaking that 30-hour mark.

Ending the test flights early would be an unprecedented action. Elf Roger refused to say anything more about it when local North Pole media tried to press him on the issue.

We will let you know if this goes anywhere.

Elf News Reporter at North Pole News Network
Elf Meg graduated from Southern North Pole University with a degree in journalism. For several years she was a star reporter for the North Pole Gazette and then briefly served as a producer for North Pole Radio News. She brings her experience in media to North Pole Flight Command, serving as both an Elf News Reporter for North Pole Radio News and Managing Editor of North Pole Flight Command.com
Elf Meg Nogg
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North Pole Flight Command is planning for long-range, high-speed test flights in the coming days.

For those following along via the tracker map at SantaTrackers.net you will likely see this manifest as the sleigh moves great distances each day in the near future.

These tests, while not exciting, will help improve the stability of the sleigh. The tests will experiment with load sizes, in varying weather, and at variable speeds and altitudes.

The test pilots are attempting to simulate actual flying scenarios that Santa might encounter on his own flight.

These are new tests, done at a level never tried before. Test pilots are confident these tests will yield good and useful data for Santa.

Elf News Reporter at North Pole News Network
Elf Meg graduated from Southern North Pole University with a degree in journalism. For several years she was a star reporter for the North Pole Gazette and then briefly served as a producer for North Pole Radio News. She brings her experience in media to North Pole Flight Command, serving as both an Elf News Reporter for North Pole Radio News and Managing Editor of North Pole Flight Command.com
Elf Meg Nogg
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50 days remain until Santa’s launch and the sleigh has resumed test flights after a brief break for test pilots for Halloween.

For now the test flights will remain over Sector 5. Flight Command reports that trackers in Sector 5 are doing a great job sending in weather forecasts and that conditions are favorable for fast testing of the sleigh after Santa requested a 2000 pound weight reduction.

The test flights are likely to stay further to the north where weather patterns are more active. You can track the progress of the test flights at SantaTrackers.net.

While some at the Sleigh Barn were a little confused and anxious about the changes Santa asked for some senior elves have recently stepped forward to say the weight reduction of the sleigh is a minor modification and not one to cause any problems.

The test flights are still on track to be completed long before Santa ever takes flight.

Elf News Reporter at North Pole News Network
Elf Meg graduated from Southern North Pole University with a degree in journalism. For several years she was a star reporter for the North Pole Gazette and then briefly served as a producer for North Pole Radio News. She brings her experience in media to North Pole Flight Command, serving as both an Elf News Reporter for North Pole Radio News and Managing Editor of North Pole Flight Command.com
Elf Meg Nogg
Latest posts by Elf Meg Nogg (see all)

The test flights of Santa’s sleigh head into October by shifting operations over the Atlantic ocean and other areas over water “for an extended period of time”.

The purpose of these flights will be to test emergency systems on the sleigh, coordination with the North Pole Navy, test landings on ships and islands, and to map changes in coastlines in both Sectors 3 and 5.

That means Santa’s sleigh will largely be out-of-sight for most land-based trackers.

Analysts in flight command say that there may be brief periods of time where Santa’s sleigh could be seen from the east coasts of Canada, the United States, Brazil or even from the islands of the Caribbean for the next few weeks.

It is anticipated these flights will concentrate on water-related flight operations and may take up to three weeks to complete.